CVE-2014-0156 in Awesome Spawn
Summary
by MITRE • 07/01/2022
Awesome spawn contains OS command injection vulnerability, which allows execution of additional commands passed to Awesome spawn as arguments. If untrusted input was included in command arguments, attacker could use this flaw to execute arbitrary command.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/17/2022
The CVE-2014-0156 vulnerability represents a critical operating system command injection flaw discovered in the Awesome spawn functionality of certain software implementations. This vulnerability specifically affects applications that utilize spawn mechanisms to execute external commands, creating a pathway for malicious actors to escalate their privileges and execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the command execution pipeline, allowing attackers to inject malicious commands through argument parameters that are subsequently passed to the operating system shell.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the improper handling of user-supplied input within the spawn function's argument processing. When applications receive untrusted data through command arguments and directly incorporate this data into system calls without adequate sanitization, the system becomes susceptible to command injection attacks. Attackers can manipulate input parameters to include shell metacharacters, command separators, or additional commands that get executed within the context of the spawning process. This creates a direct pathway for privilege escalation and system compromise, as the injected commands execute with the privileges of the spawning application.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-0156 extends beyond simple command execution, as it provides attackers with a foundation for broader system compromise and persistence mechanisms. Successful exploitation can enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to system resources, escalate privileges, and potentially establish backdoors for continued access. The vulnerability affects any system where untrusted input flows into spawn functions, making it particularly dangerous in web applications, network services, and any software that processes user input through system command execution. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically targeting the execution of system commands through legitimate system interfaces.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-0156 must focus on implementing robust input validation and sanitization practices throughout the application's data processing pipeline. The primary defense mechanism involves avoiding direct command injection by utilizing parameterized command execution instead of string concatenation, implementing proper input filtering, and employing whitelist validation for command arguments. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege models, ensuring that spawning processes operate with minimal required permissions, and implementing proper logging and monitoring to detect suspicious command execution patterns. This vulnerability specifically maps to CWE-78, which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands, and represents a classic example of how inadequate input validation can create severe security implications in system call interfaces.
The remediation process requires comprehensive code review and auditing of all spawn function implementations to identify potential injection vectors. Security teams should implement automated testing procedures that specifically target command injection vulnerabilities, including fuzz testing and input validation checks. Additionally, organizations should consider adopting secure coding practices that emphasize the use of safe system call interfaces and avoid shell interpretation of user input whenever possible. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include checks for similar patterns that could lead to command injection vulnerabilities in related software components, ensuring that the fix addresses not just the immediate issue but also prevents similar flaws from emerging in other parts of the application stack.